Baby formula preparation with warming system and customized pods

ABSTRACT

A technique for preparing baby formula includes containing an amount of powdered formula, premeasured to provide a single serving of baby formula, containing an amount of water, premeasured to provide at least a single serving of baby formula, heating the water, and dispensing both the premeasured formula and the water for providing a single serving into a bottle or other vessel when the water reaches a predetermined temperature.

Benefit is claimed to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/894,465, filed May15, 2013, which itself claims the benefit of provisional application No.61/654,029, filed May 31, 2012, and to provisional application No.61/733,004, filed Dec. 4, 2012. The contents and teachings of theseprior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Parents and other infant caregivers use many methods for mixing andheating baby formula. Typically, a caregiver measures an amount ofpowdered formula and an amount of water, places the measured water andformula into a bottle, and shakes the bottle to mix the formula.

The water, or the mixed formula, may be heated on a stove top or in amicrowave oven. Also, specialized bottle warmers have been developed,which use steam for heating bottled formula. Such bottle warmers mayinclude a bottom compartment for holding water and a top compartment forreceiving a bottle to be heated. To heat the bottle, the caregiver fillsthe bottom compartment with water, places a bottle in the topcompartment, and plugs in the bottle warmer. The machine boils thewater, and steam rises into the top compartment to gradually heat thebottle and its contents.

SUMMARY

Unfortunately, bottle warmers that use steam to heat baby formula canproduce inconsistent results. The temperature of the heated formula canvary substantially, depending on the duration of heating and the initialtemperature of the water. Also, since the formula is heated from theoutside of the bottle, the temperature of the formula can vary from oneregion to another within the bottle. In addition, such steam-basedbottle warmers tend to produce wet bottles, which are sometimesunpleasant to handle, both for caregiver and infant.

Microwave ovens can also produce inconsistently heated formula. Heatingoften depends upon the physical location within the microwave oven wherethe bottle is placed. Because microwave ovens operate using standingwaves, certain regions within the bottle can reach very hightemperatures, whereas other regions can remain relatively cool. In somecases, the hot regions of formula may be hot enough to cause displeasureto infants or even burns.

Conventional ranges can also produce inconsistent results and overlyheated formula. In addition, conventional ranges are difficult to accessand operate when caregivers are called upon in the middle of the nightto respond to hungry infants.

In contrast with these prior approaches, an improved technique forpreparing baby formula includes containing an amount of powderedformula, premeasured to provide a single serving of baby formula,containing an amount of water, premeasured to provide at least a singleserving of baby formula, heating the water, and dispensing both thepremeasured formula and the water for providing a single serving into abottle or other vessel when the water reaches a predeterminedtemperature. An operator can then screw a nipple lid onto the bottle andshake the bottle manually to mix the water with the powder.

According to some examples, powdered formula is loaded into a pod. Thepod has a cup for receiving a premeasured amount of powdered formula, alid, and a hinge that couples the lid to the cup for allowing the lid toopen and close. The loaded pod is closed, inverted, and placed into anapparatus. The apparatus is arranged to heat water to a designatedtemperature (e.g., 98.6 degrees F., or thereabouts) and to release theheated water into a bottle or other vessel when the water reaches thedesignated temperature. The apparatus is also configured to open the lidof the pod, causing substantially all of the powdered formula to fallinto the bottle. The heated water and powdered formula can be dispensedsimultaneously or sequentially.

In some examples, the apparatus has a top surface and the top surfacehas an opening. When a pod is loaded into the apparatus, a bottom of theinverted pod extends through the opening in the top surface so that thepod can be visualized by an operator. According to one variant, the pod,or a portion thereof, is made of a transparent material, to allow thecontents of the pod to be seen by the operator. In some examples, thebottom of the pod, or a portion thereof, is transparent, so that theoperator can look at the pod and readily see whether it containspowdered formula. In another example, the pod is predominantly opaquebut includes a transparent region (i.e., a window) on the bottom of thepod or on a side of the pod, to enable the operator to visualize thepod's contents without having to remove the pod from the apparatus.

In some examples, the apparatus has a single button for operation. Theoperator loads water into the apparatus (e.g., using an integratedmeasuring cup), loads powder into the pod, inserts the pod into theapparatus, and pushes the button. The apparatus then heats the water anddispenses both the powder and the water. The button illuminates redduring heating and turns green when heating is complete. The simpleoperation promotes reliable results. Caregivers can even prefill themachine with water and formula, e.g., before bed, so that only a singlepush button is needed to prepare formula when they are awakened duringthe night.

In some examples, water and powdered formula are kept separate untilthey are dispensed into the bottle. A funnel is provided for conveyingpowered formula from a pod above to the bottle below. The funnel has abottom circumference that is approximately the same as, or slightlysmaller than, the circumference of the top of the bottle. A recessedregion is provided at the bottom of the funnel, within the bottomcircumference, to provide space for a drain spout which releases heatedwater into the bottle. Separate dispensing paths for powdered formulaand water are thus contained within the bottom circumference of thefunnel, to allow powdered formula and water to be dispensed side-by-sideinto the bottle, but without direct interference with one another.Maintaining separate dispensing paths in this manner prevents contactbetween powdered formula and water within the apparatus and thusprevents powdered formula from moistening and adhering to the apparatusin the vicinity of the drain spout.

In some examples, the dispensing of heated water and powdered formulaare initiated simultaneously. According to one variant, the heated watercontinues to be dispensed into the bottle after the powdered formula hasbeen released into the bottle. Maintaining a flow of water after therelease of powdered formula ensures that the water clears the drainspout of any powder that splashes back as a result of dispensing thepowdered formula. In some variants, once the water reaches thepredetermined temperature, powder is dispensed into the bottle beforethe heated water is dispensed. In other variants, e.g., where there is alow likelihood that powder will adhere to the drain spout, water iscompletely dispensed before powder is dispensed. Displacing these eventsin time further discourages any interaction between water and powderwithin the apparatus.

According to one aspect, a pod having a lid and containing powderedformula is held in an inverted position above a funnel, with the lidfacing down. A bottle or other vessel is placed below the funnel. Wateris stored in a tank above the bottle. The water is heated. When thewater reaches a predetermined temperature, a valve is opened, causingthe heated water to drain from the tank into the bottle, by force ofgravity and without the aid of a pump. Also, the lid of the pod isopened, causing the entire contents of powdered formula to fall, underthe influence of gravity and without other mechanical aid, into thefunnel, which directs the powdered formula into the bottle, where thepowdered formula and heated water may be mixed by an operator.

Certain embodiments are directed to a method for preparing baby formula.The method includes containing an amount of powdered formula premeasuredfor yielding a single serving of baby formula and containing a volume ofwater at least as great as an amount of water for yielding a singleserving of baby formula. The method further includes heating the water,dispensing substantially all of the premeasured amount of powderedformula into a vessel, and dispensing the amount of water for yieldingthe single serving of baby formula into the vessel in response to thewater reaching a predetermined temperature, thereby delivering into thevessel powdered formula and heated water for constituting a singleserving of baby formula.

Other embodiments are directed to an apparatus for preparing babyformula. The apparatus includes a first container for containing anamount of powdered formula premeasured to yield a single serving of babyformula, a second container for containing a volume of water premeasuredto yield a single serving of baby formula, and a heater within thesecond container. The apparatus further includes a first actuatorconfigured to dispense substantially the entire contents of the firstcontainer into a vessel and a second actuator configured to dispensesubstantially the entire contents of the second container into thevessel in response to the heater heating the water to a predeterminedtemperature. The apparatus is thereby configured to deliver into thevessel powdered formula and heated water for constituting a singleserving of baby formula.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of particular embodiments of the invention, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Thedrawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placedupon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of theinvention. In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a machine for preparing formula;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is side, elevation view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side, perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1, with anopened cover and showing an opened, un-inserted pod;

FIG. 6 is rear perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1, showing ameasuring cup removed from its nest within the machine;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of various portions and components of themachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9-12 are various perspective views of a pod used in the machine ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a controller and power switch of themachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a an exploded view of various portions and components of themachine of an alternative implementation of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative implementation ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described. It is understoodthat such embodiments are provided by way of example to illustratevarious features and principles of the invention, and that the inventionhereof is broader than the specific example embodiments disclosed.

An improved technique for preparing baby formula includes containing anamount of powdered formula, premeasured to provide a single serving ofbaby formula, containing an amount of water, premeasured to provide atleast a single serving of baby formula, heating the water, anddispensing both the premeasured formula and the water for providing asingle serving into a bottle or other vessel when the water reaches apredetermined temperature.

FIGS. 1-8 show different views of an example apparatus 100 for preparingbaby formula. The apparatus 100 includes a body 110, which is made ofdifferent body portions 110 a-110 d that preferably snap together. Acover 112 is provided at the top of the apparatus 100 and opens andcloses on a hinge 210 (see FIG. 2). A removable pod 130 is placed in aninverted orientation in the apparatus 100, with a bottom of the pod 130extending through an opening 112 a in the cover 112. The apparatus 100includes a line cord 120, which may be plugged into an electrical outletfor receiving electrical power, and a single button 118. A vessel, suchas a bottle 140 may be situated on a base holder 732 (see FIG. 7), and afunnel 116 can be seen extending down from above the bottle 140 forguiding powder and/or water into the bottle 140.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, a rear of the apparatus 100 includes areceptacle area, or “nest” 230, for receiving a removable measuring cup220. The measuring cup 220 preferably snaps into place within the nest230 and is lightly retained therein for convenient storage. Themeasuring cup 220 has a finger grip 222 and preferably includes one oremore markings (not shown), which indicate a water level within themeasuring cup 220 for a single serving of baby formula. The measuringcup 220 may also (or alternatively) include conventional volumemarkings, such as markings for cups and/or liters.

FIG. 4 shows the top of the apparatus 100 with the cover 112 in an openposition and the pod 130 removed. Here, a pod tray 402 can be seen toinclude the funnel 116 and a water inlet 420. In this example, a spout410 is disposed in a side of the funnel 116 for releasing heated waterinto the bottle 140. The pod tray 402 includes a pod receiving area 404for holding a pod 130 in an inverted orientation. The pod receiving area404 includes front shoulders 430 and back shoulders 440. The shoulders430 and 440 are positioned and arranged to hold the pod 130 in a stable,inverted arrangement while allowing the lid of the pod to open freelyfor discharging powdered formula.

As seen in FIG. 5, the pod 130 includes a cup 510, a hinge 512, a lid514, and front tabs 516. For illustration, the pod 130 is shown abovethe funnel 116; however, it is understood that the pod 130 may assumethe configuration shown (with the lid 514 opened down and the tabs 516facing back) when the pod 130 is placed in the pod receiving area 404 inthe apparatus 100. With the pod 130 placed in the pod receiving area404, the tabs 516 rest against the back shoulders 440. Also, protrusions512 a and 512 b (see FIGS. 9-12) rest against the front shoulders 430.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the apparatus 100, and FIG. 8 shows across-sectional view. Here, a water tank 712 is shown within theapparatus 100 for receiving water to be heated. A level sensor 716,typically provided within the water tank 712, measures the water levelwithin the tank 712. Also, a heating element 726 and a temperaturesensor 718 (e.g., a thermocouple) are disposed within the water tank712, respectively to heat the water and to measure the water'stemperature. A valve 722 is connected to the spout 410 on one end, andto the water tank 712 on the other end. A motor 724 (e.g., a DC motor)operates to open and close the valve 722. Opening the valve 722 allowswater to flow from the water tank 712 to the spout 410 and thus into thebottle 140. Closing the valve 722 prevents water from flowing to thespout 410. Another motor 720 (e.g., a DC motor) is coupled to a cam 810positioned near the pod receiving area 404. When the motor 720 isactivated, the motor 720 rotates the cam 810 to push open the lid 514 ofthe pod 130. For example, a tip of the cam 810 is rotated downwardly tocontact a tab 518 extending from the lid 514—see FIG. 9—and thus to popopen the lid 514. The apparatus 100 may also include slip-resistant feet730 (e.g., made of rubber or some other flexible material) attached to abase of the unit. A base holder 732 provides a location for holding thebottle 140. In some examples, the base holder 732 includes a bottlesensor 734 (e.g., a load cell, optical sensor, etc.) for detecting thepresence of a bottle on the base holder 732. In addition, a compliantsealing ring 714 may be provided on a lip of the cup 510 to provide amore secure seal. In an example, the sealing ring 714 is composed of anelastomeric material, such as rubber, neoprene, or some other flexiblematerial.

As seen in FIG. 8, the apparatus 100 also includes a controller 820. Thecontroller 820 may be realized in the form of one or more printedcircuit boards on which various electronic components are provided. Thecontroller 820 is electrically coupled, e.g., via cables and connectors,to the button 118, to the actuators 720 and 724, to the heating element726, and to the various sensors 716, 718, and 734.

FIGS. 9-12 show different views of an example pod 130. As describedabove, the pod 130 may include a sealing ring 714 applied to the lip ofthe cup 510. In an example, the sealing ring 714 includes a channel onthe underside thereof for engaging the lip of the cup 510 andmaintaining an attachment to the lip via friction. As shown in FIG. 11,the tabs 516, shown more particularly as tabs 516 a and 516 b, extendfrom and are integral with the sealing ring 714. The sealing ring has alatching lip 522, and the pod lid 514 has a latching tab 520. When theoperator closes the lid 514, the latching tab 520 snaps lightly over thelatching lip 522. The closure of the latching tab 520 with the latchinglip 522 is preferably strong enough to resist opening when the pod 130is filled with powdered formula, inverted, and lightly shaken, yet notso strong that it cannot be easily opened when the pod 130 is insertedin the apparatus 100 and the cam 810 is made to strike the tab 518.

In some examples, the hinge 512 of the pod 130 is a “living hinge,”i.e., a thin flexible hinge made from the same material as the cup 510and the lid 514. Providing the hinge 512 as a living hinge allows thecup 510, lid 514, and hinge 512 to be manufactured as a single componentfrom a single material, such as plastic, paper, cardboard, or some othermaterial, for example. Suitable plastics include polyethylene andpolypropylene, for example. The inside of the cup 510 is preferablysmooth and may have a high polish, mirror surface. The smooth surfaceallows powdered formula to drop from the pod 130 when the lid 514 isopened without the powder adhering substantially to the inside of thecup 510. The inside of the funnel 116, which also makes contact withpowdered formula, preferably has a similar or the same finish and ismade of a similar or the same material.

The pod 130 may include a number of features to promote operatorconvenience. For example, the pod 130 may include one or more markings(not shown) for identifying volume levels. One marking may be placed sothat filling the cup 510 with powder to the level of the markingprovides the amount of powder for making a single serving of formula.Other markings may be provided, such as markings for English units(e.g., cups, tablespoons, etc.) and/or markings for metric units(liters, milliliters, etc.).

Also, the pod 130 may include one or more transparent regions, forallowing operators to visualize any powder contained within the pod 130.In one example, the cup 510 and/or the lid 514 are made of a transparentmaterial. In another example, the cup 510 and/or the lid 514 areprimarily opaque but include a transparent window. Windows can beprovided anywhere on the pod 130, but are particularly useful tooperators when included on the bottom of the cup 510 (which faces up innormal operation) or on a side of the cup 510, which can be seen throughthe opening 112 a in the hinged cover 112. In one particular example,the cup 510 includes a transparent strip that runs down the side of thecup 510, from the bottom of the cup 510 to the lip.

The particular geometry of the pod 130 can be varied to accommodatedifferent machines and/or user preferences. For example, the pod 130 canbe made taller and narrower or shorter and wider. It can have morerounded features or more angular features than those shown. The pod 130is not required to have a round top. Rather, a wide variety of shapesare contemplated.

In some examples, pods 130 are designed to be used and reused hundredsor more times and thus to provide a long service life. In otherexamples, pods 130 are provided as single-use items. A removable covermay be applied to the cup 510 to seal in a factory-dispensed amount offormula. The operator opens the lid 514 and peels off the cover. Theoperator then closes the lid 514 and places the pod 130 in the apparatus100, which then operates in the usual way.

Many variations in pod design are contemplated. In one example, the pod130 uses a magnetic closure, rather than a snap, to hold the lid closed.In another example, the pod lid 514 is closed using an interferenceball/cup interface. In some examples, the hinge 512 is formed by twocomponents that snap together. In some examples, the pod lid 514 isthreaded to the cup 510 and rotated (e.g., by ¼-turn) to open the lid514. As a variant on this idea, the operator may be required to insertthe pod 130 into the pod receiving area 404 and rotate the pod 130¼-turn to fully engage the pod 130. In some examples, the pod 130includes magnetic material (e.g., steel or magnets) and is attractedmagnetically to the pod receiving region 404, which also includesmagnetic material. The resulting magnetic attraction between the pod 130and the pod receiving area 404 helps to guide the pod 130 into placewithin the pod receiving area 404. According to one variant, the podreceiving area 404 includes a ring of lights (e.g., an LED-illuminatedring or light pipe), which illuminate the pod receiving area 404 andhelps the operator to guide the pod 130 into place, even in the dark.

In some examples, separate, single-use inserts are provided for the pods130. The inserts fit within the pods 130 and provide single servings offormula. The inserts may be supplied in the form of lightweight cupswith removable film covers (e.g., similar to coffee creamer containersfound in restaurants). An operator may peel off the lid of an insert andplace the insert in an opened pod 130. The operator may then close thelid 514 and place the loaded pod 130 in the apparatus 100 in the usualway. In some examples, the inserts are made to match the interior of thecup 510. Each insert has a lip that includes tab regions that fit overthe tabs 516 and/or projections 512 a, thereby allowing the tab regionsto rest on the shoulders 430/440 in the pod receiving area 404. Theshoulders 430/440 prevent the insert from falling into the funnel 116when the apparatus opens the lid 514 of the pod 130.

FIG. 13 shows an example arrangement of the controller 820 and of thebutton 118. Here, the button 118 is seen to include a contact switch1320 connected to the line cord 120, for receiving, for example, 120 VACor some other available line voltage. The button 118 is also seen toinclude a red LED (light emitting diode) 1324 and a green LED 1322. Thecontroller 820 also includes a power supply 1310 (e.g., and“off-the-line” switching power supply), a processor 1312 (e.g., alow-power microprocessor or microcontroller), memory 1314, and a speaker1350. The memory 1314 includes both volatile and nonvolatile memory andmay alternatively be included within the processor 1312. The controller820 is constructed and arranged to carry out the various automaticprocesses described herein.

The controller 820 receives signals from the various sensors, such as abottle signal 1352 from the bottle sensor 734, a temperature signal 1334from the temperature sensor 718, and a level signal 1336 from the levelsensor 716. The signals 1352, 1334, and 1336 are conveyed to thecontroller 820 by wires and/or cables, for example.

The controller 820 also generates control signals, such as a heat signal1330, for directing the heating element 726 to turn on and off, a droplid signal 1332 a, for directing the motor 720 to rotate the cam 810 foropening the pod 130, and a release water signal 1332 b, for directingmotor 724 to open and close the valve 722. The controller 820 alsogenerates signals for 1338 and 1340 for turning on and off the LEDs 1322and 1324, respectively. These signals are preferably conveyed usingwires or cables, as well.

Example operation of the apparatus 100 will now be described. Operatorsmay use the apparatus 100 to prepare single servings of baby formula oneserving at a time. An operator adds powdered formula to an empty pod 130for making a single serving of formula. The operator closes the lid 514of the pod 130, opens the cover 112, and places the pod 130 in aninverted position within the pod receiving area 404. The pod is placedwith the hinge 512 facing the front of the apparatus 100, such that thetabs 516 rest on the back shoulders 440 and the protrusions 512 a/512 brest on the front shoulders 430. The operator then uses the measuringcup 220 to measure an amount of water needed to make a single serving offormula and pours the water into the water tank 712 via the water inlet420. The operator then closes the cover 112 and pushes the button 118.

The controller 820 detects the pressing of the button 118 and initiatesa preparation sequence. For example, the controller 820 receives powerwhen the switch 1320 closes and starts the preparation sequence as soonas it assumes an operational state. The controller 820 asserts thewarming signal 1340 to illuminate the red LED 1324 within the button 118and may direct the speaker 1350 to issue a single beep. The controller820 asserts the heat signal 1330 to activate the heating element 726 toheat the water in the tank 712. The temperature sensor 718 measures thewater temperature, and the controller 820 monitors the measuredtemperature via the signal 1334. When the water temperature reaches apredetermined level, such as 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or thereabouts,the controller 820 de-asserts the heat signal 1330 to turn off theheating element 726 and asserts the release water signal 1332 b todirect the motor 724 to open the valve 722, thereby allowing the heatedwater to drain into the bottle 140. The controller 820 also asserts thedrop lid signal 1332 a to activate the motor 720 to rotate the cam 810(e.g., by a full rotation) to pop open the lid 514 of the pod 130. Thelid 514 swings down and open, and the powdered formula contained withinthe pod 130 falls through the funnel 116 and into the bottle 140. Thecontroller 820 may then monitor the level signal 1336 to detect when allwater has been emptied from the water tank 712, or the controller 820may simply wait a predetermined number of seconds (e.g., 5 seconds).Then the controller 820 directs the motor 724 to close the valve 722 andready the apparatus 100 for receiving more water later (preferably, thevalve 722 closes when no power is applied). The controller 820 thenissues the ready signal 1338 to illuminate the green LED 1322 and mayissue a pair of beeps via the speaker 1350, to indicate that thepreparation sequence is complete.

The preparation sequence described above is provided by way of example,and the sequence of steps can be varied. Some steps may be performedsimultaneously. For example, it is irrelevant whether the operatorinserts the pod 130 before or after adding the water. Also, thecontroller 820 can dispense water before or after releasing powder.According to one variant, the heated water continues to be dispensedinto the bottle 140 after the powdered formula has been released intothe bottle 140. Maintaining a flow of water after the release ofpowdered formula ensures that the water clears the drain spout 410 ofany powder that may splash back as a result of dispensing the powderedformula. In some variants, once the water reaches the predeterminedtemperature, powder is dispensed into the bottle 140 before the heatedwater is dispensed. In other variants, e.g., where there is a lowlikelihood that powder will adhere to the drain spout, water iscompletely dispensed before powder is dispensed. Displacing thedispensing of water and powder in time discourages any interactionbetween water and powder within the apparatus 100, and thus helps thekeep the apparatus 100 clean.

The preparation sequence may include various failsafe mechanisms. Forexample, prior to directing the heating element 726 to heat the water,the controller 820 may first check the level sensor 716 to ensure thatwater is present in the water tank 712. If the level sensor 716indicates an absence of water, the controller 820 aborts the preparationsequence. One or both LEDs 1322 and 1324 may be made to flash and/orbeeps may be sounded to indicate the error condition. Also, thecontroller 820 may check the bottle sensor 734 for the presence of abottle 140. If no bottle is detected, the preparation sequence may beaborted in a similar manner.

In some examples, the apparatus 100 is configured to receive more waterin the water tank 712 than is required for constituting a single servingof formula. In these instances, the apparatus 100 may include a watermetering device (not shown). The controller 820 monitors the meteringdevice during the preparation sequence and directs the motor 724 toclose the valve 722 when the apparatus 100 has dispensed an amount ofwater for constituting a single serving. In a variant of this example,the operator may establish, e.g., via an input device such as a set ofswitches (not shown), the amount of water for constituting a singleserving.

Although the apparatus 100 may be configured to accept more water thanis needed for one serving, a preferred implementation excludes anymetering equipment and simply dispenses all water in the tank 712 duringthe preparation sequence. Dispensing all water in the tank 712 (and allpowder in the pod 130) simplifies the design of the apparatus 100 aswell as its use by operators. Indeed, an advantageous design feature ofthe apparatus 100 is its ability to dispense powder and water withlittle electronic or mechanical assistance. The mere rotation of the cam810 causes all powder to be dispensed, and the mere opening of the valve722 causes all water to be dispensed. Because the pod 130 is situatedabove the bottle 140, powder falls through the funnel 116 and into thebottle 140 by force of gravity and with no other required assistance(e.g. no auger, lifter, etc.). Similarly, because the water tank 712 issituated above the spout 410, water flows out of the tank 712, throughthe spout 410 and into the bottle 140 by force of gravity and with noother required assistance (e.g., no pump or other inducer).

An improved technique has been shown and described for preparing babyformula. The includes containing an amount of powdered formula,premeasured to provide a single serving of baby formula, containing anamount of water, premeasured to provide at least a single serving ofbaby formula, heating the water, and dispensing both the premeasuredformula and the water for providing a single serving into a bottle orother vessel when the water reaches a predetermined temperature.

Having described certain embodiments, numerous alternative embodimentsor variations can be made. For example, although FIG. 13 shows aprocessor 1312 and memory 1314, simpler implementations may be provided,which do not require advanced electronics. For example, circuitry can beprovided to power the heating element 726 when the button 118 ispressed. The temperature sensor 718 can be provided as a thermostat, andthe circuitry can respond to the thermostat reaching a pre-settemperature by automatically powering the actuator 720 for rotating thecam 810, and automatically actuating the valve 722 to dispense theheated water.

Also, although it has been described that powder is released by actionof the motor 720 and cam 810, it is understood that other actuators maybe used. Similarly, although it is described that water is released byaction of the motor 724 and the valve 722, other actuators may be usedfor this purpose, as well. For example, the valve 722 may include asolenoid or electro-static mechanism and may thus be operated without amotor.

Also, FIGS. 14 and 15 show an alternative apparatus 1400 in which amodified funnel 1416 and spout 1420 provide physically separate pathsfor dispensing powder and water. In an example, the funnel 1416 has agenerally round bottom 1419 (when viewed end-on from the underneath)with a circumference that is approximately the same as, or slightlysmaller than, the circumference of the top of the bottle 140. In someexamples, the round bottom 1419 is generally circular; in otherexamples, it is generally oval or has some other curved shape. Thebottom of the funnel may also take the shape of a polygon or otherclosed figure. A recessed region 1418 is provided at the bottom 1419 ofthe funnel 1416, within the bottom circumference (or perimeter) of thefunnel 1416, to provide space for the drain spout 1420. The drain spout1420 fits within the recessed region 1418 within the bottomcircumference/perimeter of the funnel 1416. Separate dispensing pathsfor powdered formula and water are thus contained within the bottomcircumference of the funnel 1416, to allow powdered formula and water tobe dispensed side-by-side into the bottle 140, without directinterference with each other. Maintaining separate dispensing paths inthis manner prevents contact between powdered formula and water withinthe apparatus 1400 and thus prevents powdered formula from moisteningand adhering to the apparatus 1400 in the vicinity of the drain spout1420.

Also, although the apparatus 100/1400 has been shown and described foruse with baby formula, it can also be used for other beverages, such asinstant coffee, hot chocolate, sports drinks, medications, nutritionalsupplements and so forth. In some implementations, powdered material inthe pod 130 may be replaced with syrup, liquid, granules, grains, orother materials. In some examples, water may be heated with an in-lineor other heating element outside the water tank 712. Any such in-lineheater may include an internal temperature sensor to emit heated waterat the desired temperature.

In addition, it has been recognized that the opening 112 a in the cover112 of the apparatus 100/1400 may allow dust or other foreign matter toenter the apparatus 100/1400. To prevent entry of such foreign matter,the cover 112 may include a sliding or rotating disc or door (e.g., onthe underside of the cover 112), which may be advanced to cover theopening 112 a when the apparatus 100/1400 is stored and retracted whenthe apparatus 100/1400 is operated. The disc or door may ride on tracksformed on the underside of the cover 112, and slide back and forth onthe tracks for operation and storage.

As used throughout this document, the words “comprising,” “including,”and “having” are intended to set forth certain items, steps, elements,or aspects of something in an open-ended fashion. Also, as used hereinand unless a specific statement is made to the contrary, the word “set”means one or more of something. Although certain embodiments aredisclosed herein, it is understood that these are provided by way ofexample only and the invention is not limited to these particularembodiments.

Further, although features are shown and described with reference toparticular embodiments hereof, such features may be included in any ofthe disclosed embodiments and their variants. Thus, it is understoodthat features disclosed in connection with any embodiment can beincluded as variants of any other embodiment, whether such inclusion ismade explicit herein or not.

Those skilled in the art will therefore understand that various changesin form and detail may be made to the embodiments disclosed hereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

Table of References: Reference Numeral: Description: 100 Apparatus forpreparing baby formula 110 Body  110a Main body portion  110b Curvedbody portion  110c Base body portion  110d Back body portion (110a-dpreferably all snap together) 112 Cover (hinged to back body potion110d)  112a Opening in cover 112 through which bottom of pod 130extends. 116 Funnel (conveys both water and powdered formula into bottle140) 118 Button/Indicator (push-button to start preparation sequence;indicator is illuminated red-via LED 1324-when water is being heated andturns green-via LED 1322-upon completion of dispensing formula andwater) 120 Power cord (plugs into local power source, e.g., 120VAC linevoltage) 130 Pod (holds measured amount of powdered formula, has lid 514that drops open on hinge 512 to release powdered formula at designatedtime in preparation sequence; may be used repeatedly or provided assingle use item, e.g., prefilled with formula). Pod may include a clearor transparent strip or section that allows the user to confirm a filledor emptied pod. 140 Bottle (receives heated water and powdered formula)210 Hinge, for opening cover 112, to allow user to insert pod 130 220Measuring cup, for measuring amount of water to be mixed with formula222 Finger grip, for facilitating handling of measuring cup 220 230Receptacle/nest, for storing measuring cup 220 within body 110 402 Podtray 404 Pod receiving area 410 Opening, where heated water entersfunnel 116 to be dispensed into bottle 140 420 Water inlet, forreceiving unheated water 430 Front shoulders, for supporting pod 130 440Back shoulders, for supporting pod 130 510 Pod cup, for holding measuredamount of powdered formula 512 Pod hinge 512a/512b Protrusions fromhinge 512, which rest against the front shoulders 430 when pod 130 isinstalled. 514 Pod lid (opens and closes on pod hinge 512 to dispense orretain powdered formula) 516/516a,b Tabs (contact back shoulders 440 tohold pod 130 in position when pod 130 is inserted into system 100) 518Pod opening tab, for opening pod lid 514 when acted upon by cam 810 520Pod latching tab, for lightly latching pod lid 514 to pod cup 510 whenpod lid 514 is closed 522 Pod latching lip, for forming a light latchwith pod latching tab 520 when pod lid 514 is closed 712 Water tank 714Compliant sealing ring (fits on pod cup 510 to help seal cup with podlid 514); made of compliant material, such as rubber, neoprene, orelastomer 716 Level sensor, for detecting presence and/or level of waterwithin water tank 712 718 Temperature sensor (e.g., thermocouple), formeasuring water temperature 720 Motor (actuator), for rotating cam 810for opening pod lid 514 on pod hinge 512 at designated point inpreparation sequence 722 Valve, for closing to retain water and openingto dispense heated water from water tank 712 at designated point inpreparation sequence 724 Motor (actuator), for actuating valve 722 inresponse to control signal 1332b 726 Heating element, for heating waterin water tank 712 730 Feet (e.g., rubber), for stabilizing apparatus 100on a surface 732 Base holder, for receiving bottle 140 734 Bottlesensor, for detecting presence of bottle 140 or other vessel 810 Cam,for rotating to open pod lid 514 in response to actuator 720 820Controller, including one or more circuit boards for receiving powerfrom line cord 120 and controlling preparation sequence of apparatus 1001310  Power supply, for converting line voltage to power for performinglocal functions (alternatively, system 100 could run on batteries, withno line cord; power supply would then be optional) 1312  Processor, suchas a micro controller, microprocessor, or specialized control circuit.1314  Memory, for storing encoded instructions executable by theprocessor 1312 1320  Power switch/button, formed within or adjacent tobutton/indicator 118 1322  Green LED, for indicating that water is readyand has been dispensed 1324  Red LED, for indicating that water isheating 1330  Signal to heat water (sent to heating element 726) 1332aSignal to drop pod lid 514 (sent to actuator 720 for rotating cam 810 torelease latch formed by pod latching tab 520 and pod latching lip 522)1332b Signal to motor 724 to open valve 722 to release water from watertank 712 at designated point in preparation sequence 1334  Signalindicating water temperature (from temperature sensor 718) 1336  Signalindicating water level (from level sensor 716) 1338  Signal indicatingwater has been heated to temperature 1340  Signal indicating water isbeing heated 1350  Speaker 1352  Bottle sensor signal 1400  Alternativeimplementation of system for preparing baby formula 1416  Funnel withrecessed region 1418 (conveys powdered formula into bottle) 1418 Recessed region of funnel 1416, providing space within bottomcircumference 1419 of funnel to receive drain spout 1420 1419  Roundedbottom of funnel 1416 1420  Drain spout 1420 for releasing heated waterdirectly into bottle 140, without water passing through the funnel

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for preparing baby formula,comprising: a removable pod for containing an amount of powdered formulapremeasured to yield a single serving of baby formula, the pod having acup, a lid, and a hinge coupling the cup to the lid for opening andclosing the lid relative to the cup; a pod-receiving region for holdingthe pod in an inverted orientation with the lid facing down; and amoveable member configured to open the lid of the pod on command todispense the powdered formula into a vessel.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the cup of the pod includes a transparent region that allowsan operator to visually confirm whether the cup contains powderedformula when the pod is placed in the apparatus.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the transparent region is provided (i) at a bottom ofthe cup, opposite the lid, (ii) on a side of the cup, and/or (iii) overthe entirety of the cup.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein thepod-receiving region includes a shoulder in close proximity to themoveable member to resist downward movement of the cup when the moveablemember opens the lid.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises a hinged top cover, the hinged top cover having anopening above the pod-receiving region, and wherein the cup of the podextends out of the opening when the pod is placed in the pod-receivingregion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a funnelpositioned below the pod, for guiding powdered formula from the pod to avessel.